Time to talk energy: buy, use and generate well

SBLs have, and continue to, spend an awful lot of their time and energy strategically thinking about how they can mitigate their school’s rising energy costs in their budget. Helen Burge gives her top tips on how you can minimise your brain strain and cut the costs

Read the full article below or read on page 28 of our September magazine

SBLs may have considered their options around the security of the international supply of energy and, I am hoping, to have started implementing strategies to reduce their school’s carbon footprint. 

The energy industry feels like it’s become the Grand Elder of Energy Vampires! The ongoing energy crisis drama is draining us emotionally and financially at work and home. The usual weapon of choice for slaying a vampire is not going to be the solution this time; however, it is a good time to talk about energy and sustainability with your governors, trustees and leadership teams – discuss buying your energy well, using your energy well and generating your energy well. 

Buy it well

Pre-COVID, the DfE reported that schools were spending £630m per annum on energy. Time will tell what that figure is like post the energy price crisis we are currently all experiencing. Even if our energy consumption has been reduced due to implementing a range of energy-saving initiatives our costs will still have increased considerably. I don’t need to tell you the impact this is having on the rest of your budget and, therefore, your school’s strategic plans. Procurement is a complicated and long-winded task, which even the most dedicated school business leader may have to steel themselves for, and energy procurement is on another level again! If you’re not already engaged with an energy procurement expert, surely now is the time to find one. You may also have considered purchasing your energy through a DfE-approved gas or electricity framework. However, you chose to do it, please don’t do it on your own – get expert advice to buy your energy well. 

Use it well – get sparkie!

After buying your energy well, the next thing is to use your energy well. You will need to understand when and how it’s being used, so make the most of smart metering and get your Excel nerdy pants on with some data analysis. Have a look at https://energysparks.uk/. The DfE is using Energy Sparks during 2022-23 to trial the delivery of energy management systems in schools with real-time information about their energy usage, presented in a user-friendly online portal. It’s supported with an energy education programme for KS1 through to KS5, so you really can influence changes in behaviour patterns for all again, at home as well as school.  Energy Sparks can also conduct energy audits either for free virtually or at the cost of a visit (which includes a thermal imaging camera). You may also want to engage with http://www.schoolenergyefficiency.co.uk/, or register your school with https://letsgozero.org/ – an organisation which will support your school to set zero carbon targets.

If your school has usable floor space of over 250m² it is a legal requirement to have a display energy certificate (DEC). They last for one year for buildings with a total useful floor area of more than 1000m² and for 10 years when the total floor area is over 250m² and up to 1000m². The advisory report which accompanies the DEC includes recommendations for improving the energy performance of the building. Are you able to implement any of those recommendations? Can’t find your DEC? take a look at https://find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk/find-a-certificate/type-of-property. If your home has one it will be on here too.

If you’re fortunate enough to be involved in a new school building project, how can you ensure it’s as energy efficient as possible? Maybe network with other SBLS via the operations strand of  https://www.transform-our-world.org/ukssnfor ideas and support.

If your organisation meets two of the following criteria: 

• 250 or more employees;
  • balance sheet assets of £18m or more;
  • turnover greater than £36m;

then you should be reporting on your streamlined energy carbon annually in your year-end accounts. Understanding your school’s intensity ratio (total gross emissions in metric tonnes – CO²e per pupil), and sharing this with the school community, could focus minds on working together to reduce it.

Generate your energy well

I know my trust is looking to expedite our plans for installing solar panels across the estate, maybe funded by grants or through leases. Most of our roofs are now suitable for solar panels having been repaired and replaced. Depending on your context, some schools might be able to use unused fields of their estate for solar panels, or maybe a wind turbine. Again, get expert advice on this as what works well for a school down the road, might not be the right solution for your school despite the fact we are all sharing the same renewable energy shining down on us or blowing our hair into our eyes.